Mindfulness: Attained & Sustained

I hear this comment a lot, “You are so creative!”

I consider it a HUGE compliment because in part, it’s not completely a natural talent of mine. Yes, I have elements of my “creative identity” that come fairly natural. My creativity behind the camera lens is, in some ways, natural. But the reality is, even our natural talents have to be practiced in order to sustain them. AND, we also have to discover them. What if nobody had ever given me a camera. I would have no idea that a creative eye for photography lives inside.

The same is true for my mindfulness practice and the creative pages that fill my sketchbooks. This is definitely not a natural talent of mine by “traditional” means. I can’t draw. Really, I can’t. Sit me in front of a bowl of fruit and ask me to draw it and it won’t end well. On the page or in my body. I’ll be full of anxiety, doubt and judgement. Feelings I consistently work to remove from my life through mindfulness practices. After spending many years developing a mindful coloring practice, sit me in front of a sketchbook in a quiet, reflective environment and give me something to draw with and a whole different scenario plays out.

My body relaxes and feels soothed.

I effortlessly let color and expression flow onto the page in creative ways.

I end with a feeling of accomplishment, wonder and peace.

Amazon Biospheres Snow Globe Photo Go Viral To Close Out 2016…and open 2017!

Several weeks ago I told you about the awesome birthday surprise and the Jeff Bezos tweet of my “snow globe” photo of the Amazon Biospheres. It was fun and exciting and that tweet got a lot of attention!

1.1k likes as of last week!

A wow moment for me and I’m grateful to Jeff Bezos for sharing it and kicking off a bit of a domino effect as GeekWire picked up the photo tweet and featured it and my website. That was a surprise too!

Hey, December…I LIKE your surprises!

I reached out to the GeekWire reporter to send a thanks for featuring and the next thing I knew a follow-up interview was scheduled and there I was sitting down telling my story and talking about the Amazon Biospheres for a more detailed GeekWire feature.

I’ve found inspiration in daily micro-blogging over on my Instagram account, but I know I’ve neglected my Blog and subscribers. I’m going to try out a new goal to do a weekly blog highlighting my most popular images on Instagram. Hopefully you will be inspired by these images too. I’ll also provide a coupon code and a one week only discount on select fan favorite images so you can get images off your screen and onto your walls.

Last week I featured images from a recent trip to Anacortes and one of my favorite area beaches, Rosario Beach. Here are the top 2 “fan favorites” for the week.

Coming in tops with 100 likes and several comments was this fun photo of the violent surf roaring onto the beach as the sun was setting. These were the biggest waves I’ve seen on this beach and was thankful that I was paying attention when a particularly BIG one crashed in and tried to take me and my tripod out! Still standing (and running quickly away from the looming waves) I was able to get some great shots of rolling waves highlighted by the sun’s glowing rays.

Coming in second, with 83 likes, is this Impressionist photography image of sunset color beginning to paint the sky.

Skagit Valley Tulips 2016

I’ve completely ignored my blog over the last month. I’ve been guest blogging on other sites and spending lots of time on Instagram curating a MOST colorful feed. Today I needed an extra special blog inspiration environment and as I type this I’m sitting at the Safeco Field ballpark (thank you WiFi) watching my childhood team take on the local team. Texas Rangers vs Seattle Mariners on a temperate Spring afternoon does a body and mind good (the hotdog I just devoured didn’t hurt either).

Speaking of Spring…

One of my MOST favorite things to do in the Pacific Northwest is visit the Skagit Valley tulips during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. The drive is beautiful, the farm country is inspiring, and the tulip fields are colorfully energizing and make for great camera play! Come along with me as I wander{lust} and color{lust} through the rows of color.